So I'm wanting to upgrade the pulley for my supercharger, as I heard it was the best performance mod for a first mod, cause it doesn't require anything else, and can add upwards of 15+ hp.

So here are some questions I have:
1) 15%, 17%, or 19%? What's the difference and what do I want?
2) What is the best RPM rang to shift at and how do I know?
3) What are some other first mods I should look into getting?
4) Should I do the installations myself? I have no installation experience.

 

Aloha and welcome to NAM.

Search around and you'll find many other treads just like yours.

Where do you live?

Check out your local MINI club if any, your dealership might be able to tell you if you have an active club nearby.

What are your plans for your MINI?

Street use only? Do you have lots of commuting to do?
Any Driving school, or track, or autocross in the future?

If you want to autocross then you don't want to do much for upgrading because it puts you into a much more competitive class.
Many autocross events take place each month throughout the country some sponsored by Sports Car Club of America and some by BMW Car Club or other organizations.

What upgrades do you have already? How many miles on your MCS?

Some quick answers to get you started:
1) 15%, 17%, or 19%? What's the difference and what do I want?

Safest and most reliable is 15%. It works. Most boost comes from 19% but so does more stress on the smaller pulley belt, more wear on the belt, more routine replacement to avoid belt breakage which is not common for street use but more common for track use. To get the full benefit of the 15% pulley you'll need an ECU tuned for 15% pulley. To get the most out of 19% you need ECU, larger Fuel injectors (JCW), colder spark plugs (IK-22). It doesn't hurt to have cold air intake box and upgraded free flowing Cat back exhaust. 17% is in between. People also try to upgrade or add a lightweight crank pulley stock sized or sometimes larger by 2%. That's another story. Usually you combine 15% SC pulley with 2% crank pulley. There are also some pulleys that are in between sizes- see M7.

2) What is the best RPM rang to shift at and how do I know?

Your MINI is fine shifting anywhere from 2500 to 6500 rpm. Your choice when to shift but for best results try 3500 to 5500 rpm. Use lower rpm if you want to get better mpg and up into a higher gear earlier or if going downhill. For best power shift about 4000-5500 rpm. You know by listening to the revs or looking at your tachometer.

3) What are some other first mods I should look into getting?

Best early mod is-
1. Driving school- a skilled driver in a stock MINI can outdrive a less skilled driver in a mid modded MINI on a track most of the time.
2. Cat back exhaust- many options from the One Ball (clipping off one of the mufflers and reconnecting the pipes) to one and two sided systems.
3. Cold Air intake- or even hot air intake- this isn't allowed for autocross in stock classes- watch out.
4. Non Runflat tires- much better and more comfortable than runflats- what do you have now?
5. Lightweight wheels- the stock wheels are heavy esp the 17" ones, 16" not as bad.
6. Suspension upgrades- if your stock MCS has many miles on it then the shocks might be worn a bit. Koni FSD is a good shock upgrade that would work with stock springs and give good performance for street and driving school.

4) Should I do the installations myself? I have no installation experience.

Some things are simple. If you have a MINI club, you might ask them about Do It Yourself get togethers- so others can help you or so you can learn.
You can buy the food and drink and the group supplies the space, energy, tools and experience. You can get your hands dirty too.
A good local MINI garage is also a big plus. The SC pulley upgrade isn't that hard to do but you need the right tools and technique. Anyone who has done it before will be able to install it. Pulley removal tool and pulley belt tensioner are specialized tools needed beyond the basics and a couple of floor jacks and a heavy pry tool or two.

 

1. There's 15, 16, 17, and 19. The larger the number, the smaller the pulley, which in turn will spin the SC faster. The faster the SC spins the more boost it creates, to a limit... you will have to decide on which you want, as it's up to you. It's been noted before that *generally* (NOT debating here) 15 is the most reliable, and 19 will give you the most boost (however that can be non-beneficial). Some say the 19 is less reliable and it's better for lower RPM driving, but it lacks, and can actually be worse in the top-end. A 15 will run better as a track-pulley, since it's better suited for the higher RPM's. And as you might guess, a 16 and 17 are in the middle. *Also note, you need nothing for a 15 or 16%, but for a 17 and 19 you need a smaller belt. I believe it's also suggested to run something else as well for a 19.

2. This again, depends on you. I generally shift at 3k when I'm cruising around town, but if I want to go fast, I'll go WOT until ~6.5k.

3. The *Big 3 Mods* are Pulley, Intake, and Exhaust, hands down. After that, stuff gets a little more involved and expensive.

4. I would steer clear of the pulley install if you have no one to help you, but the exhaust and intake you can do. Just grab some friends for a day.

Again, these really all depend on you. There are NUMEROUS threads about each, I suggest you search NAM.

-Cody

 

Welcome to NAM. I would echo what my IBOC brother has said regarding DIY installs. The pulley mod is best left to someone with some experience. If you bring your car to Las Vegas next spring, there are usually a couple of modders doing pulleys in the parking garage at AMVIV. CAI and exhaust are very straightforward, however. I've put the Milltek on twice by myself with no problems. Look around for the threads on jacking your car. Its quite simple. Cheers.

tm

 

Looks like an all-blue thread so far, so I'll jump in too. As our esteemed friend minihune said, it all depends on your goals for your MINI. If you are just looking for a kick-in-the-pants for your daily driver, go 15% pulley, CAI and some sort of free-flowing exhaust. Might also consider a larger rear anti-sway bar to help keep the handling in line.
If you are joining the HP wars, you'll need to do a lot of research so that you end up with an integrated system.
CAI and exhaust are self-install items. Without experience or experienced help, leave the pulley to someone else. And don't forget to re-tune the ECU to take best advantage of your mods.

Good luck, and welcome to the addiction!

 

+1 for CAI and Exhaust, both are pretty straight foward.

Shifting is all about personal preference. I usually shift at about 4000rpm, seems to be good for power without totally over doing it (if you catch my drift).